Utility shovel



Dec. 24, 1929. R. A; wORNsTAFF UTILITY sHovEL Filed Dec. 3. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l EJZawH/wntoz Dec. 24, 1929. R. A. woRNsTAr-F 1,741,004

UTILITY SHOVEL Filed Deo. 3, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet' 2 Patented Dec. 24, 1929 Wheel PATENT OFFICE RICHARD A. WORNSTAFF, F BRIGHTON, IOWA UTILITY SHOVEL Application led `.December 3, 1928.

This invention relates to improvements in shovels, having for an object to provide a shovel of such construction as will permit of various adjustments of the shovel blade or body with respect to the handle therefor, hence, allowing the advantages of a spoon shovel and an ordinary straight shovel to be embodied in a single device and rendering the same especially useful in pole or post hole diggino' or in similar operations where it has heretofore been necessary to utilize a spading or digging shovel to loosen the earth and then,

a spoon type of shovel to remove the loosened earth from the operation.

It is also an equally important object of the invention to provide a shovel of the character mentioned employing a novel form of mounting for the shovel blade with respect to the handle therefor, including a means for 2e allowing of free angular adjustment or pivotal movement of the blade in one direction with relation to the handle, whereby said blade may be moved to the desired position during a digging operation for a subsequent lifting or spooning operation and also, that said blade may be rigidly secured in a particular angularly adjusted position with relation to its handle, that the same may be used as an ordinary straight shovel.

Yet another and equally important object of the invention is to provide the adjustable mounting of the shovel blade or body with a common means for effecting locking of the said blade in either of its several adjustments, that is, whereby said shovel blade will have free pivotal movement in one direction with relation to the blade in one instance and in another instance, will be rigidly or fixedly locked in an angularly adjusted position with 40 respect to the handle of the device; the said means being readily and conveniently operable from the hand engaged portion of the shovel handle.

Other objects of the invention will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

In order that the invention and its mode of operation may be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which it appertains, I

have in the accompanying illustrative draw- Serial No. 323,432.

ings and in the detailed description based thereupon, set out one possible embodiment of the invention.

In these drawings:

Figure l is a front elevation of proved shovel;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 2 2 of Figure l looking in the direction in which the arrows point;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary detail in longitudinal section through a portion of the shovel blade or body and the handle therefor, showing the construction of the shovel blade mounting and its arrangement with respect to the shovel handle as well as the lockine' means for the blade;

Figure 4 is a transverse section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3 looking in the direction in which the arrows point, and

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail in perspective of the locking means employed.

Having more particular reference to the drawings, in connection with which like characters of reference will designate corresponding parts throughout, the invention may be stated to comprise a body element, such for instance as a shovel blade indicated herein by the numeral l, said blade having the rearward and intermediate portions thereof provided with a iXedly arranged and longitudinally disposed shank or arm 2 having a pivot boltreceiving opening formed in the same while upon the outer or free end thereof, a reversely disposed and longitudinally positioned segment 3 is arranged. This segment 3, as will be noted upon reference to the Figures 2 and 3, is formed upon its inner and outer peripheral portions with notches or teeth 4 and 5, the notches 4 being such as to constitute a ratchet surface, as is clearly shown in the Figure 3. whereas the notches or recesses 5 are of substantially U-shaped formation and are disposed in a forward direction, as is again well shown in the Figure 3.

A handle 6, of suitable length, is provided the shovel and this handle receives over its normally lower extremity protective sheathing of met-al or similar material as is indicated by the numeral 7; a metal sleeve 8 being fixedly engaged over said normally lower end of my imthe handle and sheathing as indicated by the numeral 8 and having the free portion thereof formed with a bifurcated bearing adapted to receive between the opposite portions thereof, the pivot bolt opening carrying portion of the shank or arm 2, aforesaid. A pivot bolt or similar device as indicated by the numeral 9 is adapted to be passed through corresponding openings formed in the free extremities of the bifurcated bearing portion of the metal sleeve 8 and through the bolt receiving opening in said shank 2, hence, effecting a pivotal connection or mounting of the shovel blade or body 1 with respect to the handle 6. Also, a metal cap or guard is adapted to be engaged over one side of the metal sleeve 8, as is shown in the Figures 1 and 3, this guard being indicated for'convenience by the numeral 10 and having its normally front or forward wall arranged in spaced relation with respect to the adjacent wall or portion of the sleeve 8, hence, providing as between these two adjacent portions, a longitudinally disposed way.

Slidably received in the longitudinal way provided between the cap 10 and the adjacent portion of the sleeve 8 is a substantially flat and rectangularly shaped locking element indicated herein by the numeral 11, said element being of a width approximately corresponding to the width of the elements 8 and 10 and being snugly and slidably arranged with respect thereto for longitudinally adjustable movement; the normally upper end of such element being formed with an oiiset portion 12 apertured as at 13 whereby to permit of connectionwith operatingmeans,hereinaftermore fully described. The body of this locking element 11 is formed with an intermediately arranged rectangularly shaped opening 1li, this openingbeing adapted to coincidewith a somewhat similar opening formed in the normally forward or front wall of the cap 10 and the adjacent portion of the sleeve 8, hence permitting of the slidable passage of the segment 3 therethrough and consequently upon this, pivotal movement of the handle 6 with respect to the shovel blade 1 or vice versa. ln this connection, it is to be noted that the width of the opening 14 in the locking element 11 is such as to snugly receive the segment 3 therethrough, while the length of said opening is sufficient to permit of limited longitudinal movement of such locking element Vwith respect to said segment 3.

With a view toward providing operating means for the locking element 11, 1 fiXedly mount upon an intermediate portion of the handle 6, an angle bracket 15, said bracket having an opening formed therein through which a connecting rod 16 is longitudinally passed, this rod being arranged longitudinally of and in substantial parallelism to the handle 6 and furthermore, being of a length such as to permit its extension into engagement with the apertured portion 12 of said locking element 11, in the manner as is clearly shown in the Figure 3, this engagement being eected by the bending of a linger l16 from said connecting rod 16 and engaging it through the opening 13 in said portion 12 of the locking element. rllhe opposite or normally upper end of this connecting rod 16 is extended into pivotal engagement with a hand lever 17 pivoted, as at 18 to a lug provided upon a clamping band or strap 19 secured to the upper or normally upper end portion of the handle 6; this hand lever 17 being capable of pivotal movement with respect to the handle 6 from that position as is shown in the Figures 1 and 2 to a position as substantially right angles thereto.

A compression coiled spring 20 is engaged about the normally lower portion of the connecting rod 6, having one end thereof bearing upon the adjacent side of the angle bracket 15 and its opposite end bearing upon an adjacent portion of the offset part 12 of the locking element 11 or the linger 16 of said connecting rod 16. Thus, it will be understood that said compression spring 20 will affordaspringurge for tending to move the longitudinally disposed connecting rod 16 in a direction towards the shovel blade 1, that is, with outward and downward pivotal movement of the hand lever 17.

ln usage of my improved device, when it is desired to use the same as a digging shovel, the hand lever 17 is swung outwardly and downwardly to a position at substantially right angles with respect tothe handle 6, thereby causing the slidable locking element 11 to Abe moved to the limits of its normally downward position whereupon the normally upper end portion of the opening 1d in said locking element will Ybe brought into yieldable engagement with the ratchet face provided upon the upper side of the segment 3 through the medium of the series of notches 4. When in this position, it will be understood that said locking element 11 will serve to permit of free pivotal movement ofthe shovel blade 1 with respect to the handle 61 in one direction, thereby allowing said shovel blade to be brought to an angularly adjusted position with respect to said handle 6 after the fashion as is shown in the Figures 2 and 3. Pivotal movement as between the shovel blade 1 and the handle 6 in an opposite direction, however, will be positively prevented by reason of this yieldable engagement of the locking element 11 with the notches d of the segment 3. Thus, it will be seen that when the shovel blade 1 is in its normally straight position, as is illustrated in the Figures 1 and 2, the device may be used as a spading ordigging element to particular advantage in the digging of pole or post holes. Also, by reason of the fact t iat pivotal .movement of the shovel blade 1 with respect to the handle 6 will be permitted in one direction, as heretofore explained, my claims I consider within the spirit of my it will be furthermore seen and appreciated by workers skilled in this art, that as the shovel blade l is forced into tne earth from pressure oirected thereonto from the handle 6, said lade by proper movement ot the handle 6 may be caused to assume a position at angles with respect to the handle 6, as is shown in the Figures 2 and 8. Consequently upon this, when the shovel has reached the limit or" the desired digging engagement of the saine with the earth. it will have been moved to an angular` position and will then ellectually serve as the fell known type of spoon shovel, whereby a -maximum load ot earth will rest upon said shovel blade and consequently (by reason of its angular positioning with respect to the blade G), may be removed from the operation. ln this connection, it will be understood that movement of the shovel blade l in a direction whereby the same would assume or partially assume its initial position as is shown in full lines in the Figure l, will be prevented by reason et Une engagement ot the locking element ll with the ratchet tace or notches d of the segment 8. However, when it is desired to return the shovel blade l to its normal or initial position, -this may be readily eiiiected by swinging the hand lever 17 to a position whereat the locking element l1 will be in a neutral position with respect to the notched inner and outer peripheral surfaces of the segment 3.

When it is desired to use the. device as a straight shovel. the shovel blade l may be then rigidly adjusted or secured with respect to the handle 6 merely by swinging the hand lever 17 to that position as is shown in th'e Figures l and 2, whereupon the opposite or normally lower end of the rect-angular opening lei in the locking element ll will be brought into engagement with the particularly adiacent. notch 5 in the inner peripheral surface of the segment 3., hence, locking said segment and said shovel blade with respect to the handle 6 and positively preventing pivotal movement therebetween.

From the foregoing, it will be understood that I have provided in a single device, a combined straight and spoon shovel, and furthermore, a device that may be advantageously used in various characters of earth working, such for example. as in pole or post hole digging or in similar operations where it is desirable that a compound adjustment will he provided for the shovel blade. that it may he caused to move from a parallel or substantially parallel position vvith respect to the handle 6 to an angular position with respect thereto.

lianitestly, the construction shown is capable considerable modification, and

such modification as is within the scope of invention.

In a device ot the character described, a handle, a body pivotally mounted upon said handle, segmental means iixedly carried y said body, and a locking means movably .mounted upon the handle selectively engageable with different portion" ot said segmental means in a manner to permit of pivotal movement ot' the body in one direction with respect to said handle when engaged with one portion ot the segmental means and to rigidly iix said body with respect to said liant le when engaged with the remaining portion of said segmental means.

2. ln device ot the character described, a handle, a body pivotally mounted upon said andle. a shank extended longitudinally from t-ie body, a segment liXedly carried upon said shank, the inner and outer peripheral surfaces ot said segment havingl series of notches formed therein, and a locking means carried upon said handle and movable into engagement, selectively, with the notched inner and outer peripheral surfaces ot said segment.

3. ln a device ot' the character described, a handle, a sleeve having a bifureated bearing portion iixedly secured to said handle, a body having a longitudinally disposed shank tiXed upon one portion thereof pivoted in the bifurcated bearinph portion, the tree portion or" said shank having a tixedly arranged segment thereupon and arranged parallel to the same, one side ot said segment being formed with a ratchet tace and the opposite side ot said segment being formed with a. series of pockets, and a lociting means slidably mounted upon said handle adapted to be selectivelj.Y engaged with either the ratchet tace or the pockets upon said segment.

.t. ln a device of the character described, a handle, a sleeve having a bifurcated bearing ortion secured upon one end ot said e, a body carrying a longitudinally disposed shank, said shank being pivotally mounted in the biturcated bearing portion, a segment lixedly carried upon said shank and irranged parallel thereto, one peripheral porion of said segment being` formed with a s et ratchet teeth and the opposite eripheral portion ot said segment being with a series ot relatively spaced l cking plate slidably mounted s iandle adjacent the biturcated bearing device having an opening formed i ein tor slidably receiving said segment ethrough and said plate being adapted to e selectively moved into operative engagement with either the ratchet teeth or the pockets upon the se eral peripheral surfaces of said segment.

ln a device ot the character described, a handle, a biiturcated bearing sleeve carried upon said handle, a body carrying a fixed CFI longitudinal shank, a segment Xedly mounted upon said shank and parallel to the saine, one peripheral surface of said segment being formed With a series of ratchet teeth and the opposite peripheral surface of said segment being formed with a series of relatively spaced pockets, a cap portion engaged over a part ot said biturcated bearing sleeve having an opening formed therein tor receiving the segment therethrough, and a locking plate elidably mounted between said cap and an adjacent portion oit said bifurcated bearing Sleeve having an opening formed therein for receiving said segment therethrough, said locking plate being adapted to be selectively moved into operative engagement With either vthe ratchet teeth upon one peripheral surface ot said segment or With the pockets upon the opposite peripheral surface of said segment. ln Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

RICHARD A. VVORNSTAFF. 

